Fire Fighter Elected as Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer

August 16, 2007 – The Texas AFL-CIO officer elections resulted in two firsts this year – the first female president and the first fire fighter secretary-treasurer. Running mates Becky Moeller and now-former Big Spring, TX Local 2922 President Paul Brown were elected and have immediately begun work on important state labor issues in Austin.

“Brown, as a longtime IAFF leader, has worked hard to improve fire fighter pensions and working conditions,” says Sandy McGhee, IAFF 11th District Vice President “Now, with his new position, fire fighters will have a seat at the table where important decisions are made concerning the future of the labor movement.”

“I am honored to hold this position,” says Brown. “Not only am I the first fire fighter to be the Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, but I am the first public employee to hold the office.

“This is a great opportunity to not only be an advocate for fire fighters, but to be an advocate for the entire state labor movement.” Brown hopes to continue to work on increasing the number of state AFL-CIO affiliates – a project that Moeller began when she served as secretary-treasurer.”

It wasn’t long after Brown became a Big Spring fire fighter in 1983 that his ability to lead drew attention. Within his own local, he served as secretary-treasurer before moving up as president, a position he held for more than a decade.

Meanwhile, brown also served as chair of the Pension Legislative Committee, a pension liaison and a day representative (similar to the IAFF District Field Service Representative) with the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters (TSAFF). For the IAFF, he has been a DFSR under the past two general presidents’ administrations.

As president of the Texas Public Employee Retirement Systems (TEXPERS), Brown has also been a tireless advocate for public employee pensions. Among other things, he has worked against the establishment of risky pension plans and bad state pension-related legislation.